Prince William and Kate MIddleton are walking in the frontline of modernizing the monarchy. Meanwhile, the polls regarding what people think of the monarchy paint a darker picture, with people losing faith in it and arguing that it might be time to slim down the royal family and give them less money.
With a new reign under King Charles, Prince William has progressed into a new role; meanwhile, last fall, he suddenly showed off a beard, which, in the past, when Queen Elizabeth II was still alive, was quite a big no-no. Many royal fans online thought the future king looked unhealthy, and media outlets worldwide reported their worries.
Still, William stayed quiet and didn’t comment on anything. Sure, they are entitled to privacy. However, William could also have broken royal protocol and denied the rumors, which would primarily benefit him and the Royal Family. Do you want to have a nice time as king and restore the faith in the monarchy, William? It’s time to become more outspoken and let people know you are just like anyone else.
The Royal Family has always been known not to do many interviews or even speak on rumors about them. The fact that they never even made a statement on any of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s accusations tells you a lot about how the Royal Family is approaching rumors and news stories.
Even though Prince William and other family members were handed questions about Harry in public, they never answered or let anyone know what their real feelings were like. One can imagine that Prince William and his family were enraged by Harry’s outburst against them.
But this is not the only time the royals stay quiet. The Royal Family is very strict about sitting down with media members and doing interviews. But while they have the right to privacy, if the monarchy will survive, it’s time for a change.
That’s where Prince William comes into the picture – and the fact that speculations about his health were reported last fall was the perfect opportunity for him to start a change.
Prince William must “control the narrative”
When Prince William appeared with a beard for the first time, users on social media thought the future king looked thin and unwell. Of course, he shouldn’t be forced to speak about his health, as it is a very private matter, but it wouldn’t hurt him to sit down for interviews and talk about his life.
Being transparent is crucial for the Royal Family, and misinformation about them, their relationships, marriages, feuds, and other things are always reported. Being ahead of the curve and addressing these rumors immediately would be a massive win for the Royal family. It would suggest that they show that the institution can develop and adapt to the current media landscape and life. Moreover, controlling the narrative would prevent trolls on social media and less credible sources from spreading misinformation.
Sure, the Royal Family has been hurt by Harry and Meghan’s many accusations, but in one way, they have only themselves to blame for not speaking out about it. However, even though Prince William would benefit greatly from being more outspoken and, for example, declining the suggestion that he was ill to stop the spread of misinformation, there is one even bigger within this.
In April of last year, the National Centre for Social Research presented a new poll that suggested that support for the Royal Family had reached a new all-time low. The organization shared that in the fall of 2023, just over half (54%) of people in Britain believed that the Royal Family is “very” or “quite important.” Compare this to 2012, when the same number was 76%.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II indeed played a big part in the numbers going down, and the feud with Prince Harry and Megan Markle most likely played a part. Prince William and Kate Middleton will be crucial in modernizing the monarchy and making it an institution for modern society. One key will be being connected with the public and seen as a normal person, not some “godly” creature.
‘Gambling’ with the Royal Family’s future
With one interview, sitting down and explaining a simple thing, such as why he decided to get a beard, would make an incredible difference for Prince William, and it’s hard to get a grip on why he just won’t. Connecting with the public is becoming more crucial for the Royal Family by the day, and being able to relate to him and the other royals daily will not only make people trust them more but also, seeing that they are high-profile figures, can have issues.
Trust is something you deserve, and as a symbol of the nation, abusing it is dangerous for the royal family’s future. Is it worth gambling more with it over a beard, William?
Do you agree that Prince William should be more outspoken about his health and life? Please share this article on Facebook and give us your opinion!